Grandma's Hugs

The toddlers were having fun. Most were screaming at the top of their lungs to be heard over the others who were also screaming. The room was filled with running, jumping, laughing children who would be entirely out of control to anyone else's eyes. Anyone else would have walked in and laid down the laws. "No screaming! No jumping! No Running!"  But, this group of children was very fortunate. Instead of a Latter-day Moses, they saw Grandma walk into the room.

 

The room was soon hushed so that every child could hear Grandma. Grandma walked in, sat in one of the tiny chairs in the middle of the room, and reached out with her "Grandma Hugs."  The children were soon gathered around her, waiting for their hug. With every hug came words like, "Good morning, my little blessing!"  In return, every child knew that they were loved beyond measure by someone they loved.

 

What was so special about Grandma?

 

Well, first, she was old. She had lived with herself long enough to have very few false notions of who she was or what she believed. In fact, she knew herself so well that she did not see herself as anything special and would be embarrassed if I shared her name. She was not special to herself, but she was to everyone else.

 

Second, she genuinely loved children. She drew her energy from being around them. She loved how they thought and talked. She celebrated their innocence and spontaneity. She reveled in their curiosity, especially when they helped her see things through their clear, child-like eyes. They were not yet tainted by the horrors of modern life. They were immune from racism, etc. She drew her life's breath from their honesty and eagerness to explore where most adults no longer journeyed out of fear. She loved her children and made sure they knew it every time she was with them.

 

Lastly, Grandma knew herself far too well to believe she was anything other than who she was. She had let go of many of the things that tormented her soul. Grandma no longer desired to be rich and famous. She was comfortable and had plenty of friends and family around her, and no longer needed to compete with anyone. She was comfortable in her own soul and enjoyed other people too much to put them down or defeat them. Grandma was thrilled being Grandma and had no need to be anyone else. 

 

This boils down to saying that Grandma had discovered the secret to love, humility. She knew herself, just as she was, and accepted what she saw. Grandma had room in her soul to let others share her attention and find shelter in her arms. Humility was not about discounting oneself. It is not about seeing herself as less than who she was. Nor was it about not seeing herself as more than she was. She was content being a loving, caring Grandma to a bunch of loud, boisterous children who needed something that she had been given in abundance, love.

 

Grandma knew that love abides in an atmosphere of humility. And she would not want to give that up for any amount of gold or fame. She enjoyed the children's hugs more than they enjoyed her hugs. Grandma's hugs kept her alive. And as long as those children are alive, the memory of her hugs will keep her alive each time they hug their own children or grandchildren. 

 

Yes, this is a true story. Grandma, you live on whenever one of your children offers their version of a grandma hug. RIP Grandma; while you may be missed, you will never be forgotten.